>> >> announcer: this is al jazeera. hello there. welcome to the newshour from al jazeera's headquarters in dough hoe. i'm shiulie ghosh. coming up, let the people decide. greece's prime minister calls on a referendum for the bail out deal. fearing for their lives - foreign tourists flying out of tunisia after 38 are killed in a beach resort.

the battle for kobane kurdish forces push back i.s.i.l. fighters from the border town. ♪ amazing graze ... and a yule somingy for the victims -- eulogy for the victims of the charleston church shooting. the president urges everyone to reject racial hate red. european finance minister are meeting to sourt ut greece's -- sort out greece's debt crisis. greece's prime minister refused to accept the latest. they are wanting to hold a referendum. they are struggling to pay a $1.5 billion. a main sticking point is pensions. pensioners want to increase

retirement to 67.2022. a point of contention is the greek government does not want to increase consumer tox or v.a. t on household bills or services such as hotels. andrew simmonds is in brussels where eurozone and foreign ministers are meeting to discuss the crisis. first we'll go to john psaropoulos live in greece. tell us about the referendum that alexis tsipras is hoping to hold. clearly he's hoping for a no vote. >> hello. it does appear that way. alexis tsipras says he'll respect any decision that the greek people make. he made it clear that he believes the latest plans by greece's creditors would lead to humiliating austerity without end and placed himself clearly on the matter. this is not the irs time however, that this idea has come about of the referendum. it's the result of government's

finding themselves in enormous difficulty adjudicating tension between electorate taxpayers and creditors. is came up in november 2011 triggering the demise of the prime minister, the socialist party leader at the time. he was reprimanded by creditors for creating political uncertainty and was told to step down or accept through a parliamentary procedure austerity measures presented at that time. we moved on from there. parliament has been through a lot. there has been several elections since then. this party feels it risks splitting itself by presenting another austerity plan that it promised it wouldn't do. i think one. alexis tsipras's goals is to deflect the decision to the people not to make the parliamentary procedure. that i think is the major goal for him. if the people decide to accept the austerity measures he can

allow his government to stand as is and shay we have listened to the voice of the people. >> what do you people make of this. what is the mood there today? >> well i think it will take a while for this - the implications to sink in fully. we'll know more once we see the plan that is going to be put to people to vote for or against we'll know more once the counter parliamentary session behind me in the building finishes and decides on the phrasing of the question in the referendum. it will help people to see the reaction. euro group in brussels, and let's not forget that decisive in this matter will be whether greece decideses to pay a $1.8 billion debt to the international monetary fund on tuesday or not. if it doesn't, the banking system could be cut off from the

european central bank because the greek bonds will no longer be considered sufficient capital. their value will plummet. that could lead to capital controls and we saw a small run on a tm machines, the mood may shift and change. at the moment people are taking it calmly a lot of people i spoke to consider it was an inevitable outcome. sooner or later in the crisis wh austerity plans shoved down the throats of governments left and center and right wing feeling that sooner or later it had to come down to a popular vote not just to accept one plan but the implication is whether people want the euro in the end. >> let's cross to andrew simmonds in brussels what are european ministers going to make of the greek decision to hold a referendum? >> this is an extraordinary

situation. the vice-chancellor of germany is the only one that made an official statement saying that a referendum shouldn't be dismissed out of hand but the question being put, you know the terms of that question is crucial that it's clear-cut. now, it's hard to conceive really how there can be an extension of the bailout. it's a hard position here taken in these talks. and also we are hearing now that there'll be a statement ahead of the euro greek meeting by the leader. so we could well hear that there's a firm response ahead of any further talks, because some are asking what are is the point in having the meeting if there'll be a referendum in greece, and they rejected the deal on the table. clear cut, no doubt about that whatsoever. so, what is going to happen now is that there'll be this meeting, and not only will there ba decision on whether or not there'll be an extension of the

bailout, but also there'll be discussion of a plan b. unchartered water that everywhere has been referring to for the past five years, we are in them now. there's no doubt about this. we are in the waters we are not sure what will happen next. added to that the european central bank - there'll be a lot of pressure on the e.c.b. as to what will happen with the banks, as john has been referring to. there's a small reason on the atms in athens this morning, there could be a bigger one when the markets open on monday and relent. >> there needs to be clear cut answers from the eurozone, i think we'll hear it today. >> a lot of uncertainty ahead for greece. thank you very much indeed for that. the tunisian government is dismissing reports that the islamic state of iraq and levant is behind friday's attacks on foreign tourists. the prime minister says the gunman was not previously known

to police and ordered the closure of 80 mosques more inciting violence. tourists have been arriving at the airport. thousands of british visitors are being flown home. the government opened fire on sunday, in a beech outside the hotel. we have a report on the events as they underfoeded. >> reporter: on a sunny, hot day the mediterranean resort was full when a gunman started shooting. his weapon as hidden inside a beach umbrella. witnesses say he took his some time targetting people at point blank range - first on the beach, and around the swimming pool. some ran for their lives into the sea. others for the safety of their hotels, many of the injured were taken to hospital still wearing their swimming costumes. >> translation: i ran away. when i was running away i took a

bulletment here i am. they shot me i have a broken fib u la. i cannot explain anything else to you. >> i knew there was trouble when i heard a gunshot. there was a loud explosion. i said "oh, this is really happening now." >> reporter: the victims are from a number of european countries, the resort is one of tunisia's most popular, packed with large hotels. the minister of tourism called this a catastrophe for the economy. the attacker was shot by police. there are reports he was a young tunisian student. in march 2nd tunisians killed 22 people, mainly foreigners in a museum in the capital tunis. they were trained to fight in libya. tunisia's democracy escaped the worst of the region's violence. it's held free and fair elections, it's political process has been inclusive.

religious and secular parties are in government together. the government has called for unity and calm. it's under pressure now to react. >> we would like to emphasise that the war on terrorism is ongoing, requiring cooperation between all parties. it's not only the responsibility of security forces and army but a national duty. we should unite to fight terrorist. >> reporter: there's a minority of tunisians that want an islamic state. thousands of young tunisians are fighting for armed groups abroad. we go live. a lot of foreign tourists flying out of tunisia. tell us about the victims, and what it means for tunisia's economy. more gruesome details are emerging and the fact that the

gunmen have 30 or 40 minutes to go around killing people at point blank range. most of the bodies were taken from the sea. people went to the see to get away from the gunman. we understand that those corpses are taken to tunis and will be repatriated back to the country. the majority of people killed were british, and we understand that many of the hotels in this tourist hot spot are being emptied. tourism operators are taking the visitors to tunis airport and people who are coming here cancelled the bookings. so devastating to the economy. and the tunisian reports. they are closing the mosques down. are they reassuring people that the safety is going to be

improved. >> well since this new government took over hundreds of mosques have been closed already, and many muslim organizations have been shot down and haven't prevented attacks. and foreign visitors in fact it hasn't had an impact at all. a lot of people are saying that the root causes of what happened are more important than focussing on a few of courseses, and the root causes are crucial because people need to understand why it is that thousands of tunisians are going to fight abroad in tunisia, and some coming back here to carry out attacks on home soil. >> thank you for that. in the resort town sousse in

tunisia. that town is known for package holidays among the european tourists. in the wake of the attack there's concern about the impact on tunisia's fragile economy. 400,000 british nationals visited tunisia in 2014 alone. tourism accounts for 7%. the industry added 400,000 direct or indirect jobs. that's significant in a country where the unemployment rate is as high as 15.3%, more than its pre revolution days. let's speak to the tunisian mp from the opposition enactor party. good to have you with us. can i ask you, the government made the move to close 80 mosques in the wake of the attack. is that the right move do you think? >> well good morning.

well indeed my country is badly hurt. and first my condolences for all the victims and british tourists. of course, closing legal mosques is a good let's say, act or decision in continuity with the decision or decisions taken by former governments, but it's not enough. indeed, when we see the profile of the young men, the terrorist, it seems that he's not, let's say, religious. he had a lot of religious behaviour. so who guarantees that such person has been in the mosques.

also of other measures. >> an i.s.i.l.-linked group claimed responsibly for the attacks in tunisia. do you not think it's due to a rise in radicalism or extremism in tunisia? >> i think that - no radicalism is not rising in tunisia. it's outside tunisia. but the danger is that it's attracting our youth and trapping them outside tunisia, so we have to think of measures how, first of all, to prevent the use of networks of extremism and terrorism in libya or elsewhere. and, secondly, we have to think where and how what are the means of attracting them. it's not only illegal mosques,

it's internet and also main means of attracting these young men, you know. the attacker is - has graduated from the university from computer sciences and he was not known for his religious behaviour. so we can ask how was he recruited to extremist - these extremist views. we need to go further, more than closing mosques. >> can i ask you, while - while enactor was in power, some people are blaming your party for not being tough enough on the causes of radicalization while enactor were in power, how do you react to that. >> well this is was an accusation, but it was the troika government. the government of the others who

pronounced or declared these extremist movement, as terrorist movements, and took decisions against them. so i think each of the governments since the revolution is, let's say, doing - it's a part of spoelty to face roots of terrorism, and terrorist acts and it's not time to accuse each others it's time to reinforce national unity, to continue on doing the acts that we need to stop these people before they act, before they act. so to harm them the security measures, and to uplift also the morale of tunisians. to tell intellectual that we together we are stronger than

terrorists. >> thank you very much indeed for joining us. from the enactor party in tunisia coming up in the newshour. [ singing ] celebrations in the u.s. as the supreme court legalizes same-sex marriages across the country. plus... >> the sound and fury of a country enraged. i'm in honduras where thousands are marching calling for the president to resign. >> and penalties in the copa america between argentina and colombia. we'll tell you who is through to the semis, later in sport. a day of mourning has been declared in kuwait after a suicide bomber killed 27 worshippers in a shia mosque.

several people have been arrested upon suspicion. and the government announced an all out confrontation with terrorism after a group with links to i.s.i.l. claimed fobilityy, mohammed jamjoom reports from the scene of the explosion. >> reporter: at the imam mosque, violence snuffed out lives of the faithful. a suicide attack during the muslim holy month of the ramadan shattered a society's sense of security, leaving dozens dead, hundreds wounded. >> some pictures have been shown of the suicide coward that walked into the place of prayer today wearing the same robes that i'm wearing now. it's difficult to stop that type of activity. we are investing, or will be investing in metal detectors and the like. but even that can be overcome with, you know, the use of different types of technologies.

>> this is the third such attack of its kind within a relatively secured gulf nation. suicide bombers killed dozens of worshippers in saudi arabia on two consecutive fridays in may. now kuwait. an attack meant to show sectarianism in a country where sunni and shi'a co-exist relatively harmoniously. the country's amir said the bombing violated islamic law and calls for continued national unity. a message reinforced by the country's cabinet. security officials have been placed on heightened alert and numerous officials vowed to do what is necessary to ensure kuwait and kuwaitis are protected. reassurances taken to heart. >> by day's end a display of solidarity. shia and sunni, side by side in worship.

praying, it would appear, for peace. . >> mohammed jamjoom is live in kuwait city. as you were showing us huge site that an attack like this could happen so rare in kuwait. >> yes, that's right. this is something that this kuwaiti, many here since yesterday are grappling to come to terms with. first, that there was an attack of this magnitude in this country, which was considered so secure. second that there was an attack on the mosque, a shia mosque. and third during rama tan. not something that kuwaitis thought would happen and secondly not something that happened to close, and the same group which is called the

province they have claimed responsibility for the attack that together place on two fridays aring targetting worshippers, today there'll be a furniture held at the state mosque in a few hours from now. they'll pray for the dead who perished in the horrifying attack. today has been declared a national day of mourning. several suspects have been detained and questioned. we have not heard if there has been official arrests or if they have released the names of the suspects. we expect to here more from that in the hours to come. as of now, the death toll stands at 27, a figure that is horrific. the injuries over 200, and they are treated at various hospitals. in the capital, one thing that

leaders stressed from the amir on down to the cabinet, the parliament, is there must be unity. we saw the scenes referred to in the report praying side by side in a mosque, in another shi'a mock, trying to show they are not going to be cowed by horrible acts that happened in kuwait. we even saw it on social media sites in kuwait. this was a hashtag that trended on twitter called one kuwait in which citizens said "this is a country in which sunni and shia stand in solidarity we mourn with one another" and will continue this. the government says they'll take on who they are calling terrorists, they'll snuff this out but the country has been put on a heightened sense of alert. not just security on land but maritime, and the illusions of

safety in the country, not illusions, but the comfort, has been punctured by the events yesterday, and people are really, really struggling to come to terms with that right now. >> thank you for that. mohammed jamjoom in kuwait city there. >> now kurdish forces say they pushed i.s.i.l. fighters from kobane for the second time this year activists say battles are continuing south of syrian town on the border with turkey. kurdish media say 150 people have been killed since i.s.i.l. stormed the town on thursday and took civilians hostage, using them as human shields. let's go to zeina khodr, in turkey over the border from kobane and it looks like there are still some fighting continuing, but it looks as though kobane is in the hands of the syrian kurds.

>> yes, that is what we understand from activists on the ground. the town of kobane you can see the town behind me it has been cleared from islamic state of iraq and levant fighters according to activists who are inside the town. syrian kurdish forces are clearing up areas, entering buildings that go house to house to see if there are i.s.i.l. fighters left. i.s.i.l. launched a surprise attack on thursday, a deadly attack. they snuck into the town they were disguised in kurdish uniforms, a suicide car bomber detonated himself at the border crossing, and n known number of i.s.i.l. fighters found out and started to randomly kill civilians. a deadly assault. we understand from the syrian observatory tore human rights and activists, 176 fill jans were killed in -- civilians were killed in kobane and a nearby

village. over 150 people that we visited in hospitals in southern turkey and spoke to survivors, people were terrified. i.s.i.l. was pushed out. there were four months of clashes, dozens of air strikes. many believe i.s.i.l.'s intention was not to capture the town. what i.s.i.l. wanted to do was send a message. a few days ago a spokesperson said that we may lose battles, but we cannot be defeated. and their assault in kobane was a message this we are still here, we can come back when we want. the people of kobane are afraid for the time being, according to the people inside i.s.i.l. fighters that took control of the buildings and took civilians as hostages have been killed wounded or escaped. >> if that's the message, we can go back any time we like.

presumably there can be more assaults on kobane in the near future. >> undoubtedly that's a possibility. we have to see what is going on in the nearby corner of syria, the kurds are engaged in fears fighting with i.s.i.l., in more than one location. i.s.i.l. suffered a string of defeats in recent weeks, it lost a border town, a strategic town used to smuggle in fighters and supplies. the kurds pushed south and they are 50km from rika city the de facto capital of the islamic state that i.s.i.l. declared. the kurd and i.s.i.l. are in battle. we understand that there's fighting in hasaka province along the border with iraq

strategic for i.s.i.l. they can't afford to lose positions. why, it leaves their territories in iraq and syria. many believes it's a message for the kurd. they felt so much resistance for their dream, their nation. i.s.i.l. is telling them. well we can defeat you hear as well. we can re-enter towns when we like it serves as a warning because at the end of the day the kurds managed to take strategic territory from i.s.i.l. thank you for that. >> well staying with syria, fighting is raging in the nearby city of hasaka between i.s.i.l. and government forces. activists say three i.s.i.l. suicide bombs exploded on friday. killing government soldiers. the town is coming unt bombardment from government jets. the u.n. estimates 60,000 fled the fighting so far. >> syrian rebels are making

gains against government forces it deraa. activists say rebel fighters have taken over the southern and western entrances, part of an offensive by alliances of 51 groups to wrest control of the city. syrian jets have been dropping barrel bombs in the area. >> okay let's take a look at the weather with rob. there has been weird weather. you're telling me about a sandstorm. >> it's not that weird, it's been going on since the spring. whatever happens in southern china, northern china is a drier place, and the wind whips up where it's active in the spring this is on the edge. gobi desert. you have a frontal system it's windy weather, unpleasant conditions, as you can see. this lot tends to move east words and as far east as cities in eastern china. it indicates that the systems

move eastwards. you thip it doesn't matter what happens further south. and at the top of your screen eventually they get the weather, which has been stormy so far this year. this should be a lovely seaside resort. it's a long way north. you expect proper summer weather in the middle of june it's 12 degrees, poor, pathetic. it may improve. temperatures could rise to 16-19 degrees. the site of that is a rain band that has been doing its stuff, making things wet in japan. and that rain will keep going. it's concentrating in china as well. still, in the shanghai area thank you very much indeed for that. you are with al jazeera. world powers are running out of time to reach a deal with iran over its nuclear programme. top diplomats, including john

kerry are back in geneva for talks. we'll be there live with an update. and filipinos hoping to ease tension over china's build up in the south china sea. and who has been selected at the n.h.l. number one draft pick. stay with us.

welcome back i'm shiulie ghosh. let's listen to the top stories. the tunisian government is

dismissing i.s.i.l.'s claim of responsibility for attacking tourists. they ordered the closure of 18 mosques for fighting of violence. kurdish forces say they pushed i.s.i.l. fighters from kobane. battles condition south of the border and the greek prime minister wants the people to decide whether to accept a debt deal from international lenders. alexis tsipras is calling for a referendum on sunday 5th of july. well, let's talk more about that with vicky pryce from the center of economic research. this is an extraordinary move by alexis tsipras, what do you make of the views of a referendum and the fact that he's really hoping for a no vote. >> it's a dangerous situation

for the greeks to find themselves in. if the greeks go for a no vote. there's no way the banks will be supportive. or anything will be done to disperse money or paying back the debts or pensions and wages. that's a really really really sort of risky position to find yourself in. >> he seems to have pre-empted the talks in brussels going on right now, rather. you wonder what are they going to talk about if he's already said actually there'll be a referendum on the bailout deal. >> indeed. this was supposed to be the accept of coming up with a solution the greeks might accept. it moved from being political, the euro group booking at debt and we know there wasn't much chance of the two sides seeing

eye to eye on detailed measures whether taxes would fall what to do with the reforms. it wasn't going to move forward at all. alexis tsipras preemped it. he's getting his parliament to accept it's a good way forward. nevertheless what he's done is basically made the euro group meeting a different one. there'll be a statement telling the world what they would view as negative and as have been hearing, discussing plan b, and what should the greek situation turn das tarredly. >> yes i was going to ask you

this should the greeks discuss how to organise an orderly exit from greece. >> i am sure they should be talking about that. the cost of an exit of greece the problems with the banking system problems they'll have with restarting the economy are not going away. the europeans are not going to be involved in that while the country stays in the e.u. which the greeks want not to exit the european union as a result of all this. so there'll be a need to (a) do something about greece and make sure that contagion to other countries is limited in the short term. nevertheless, i don't think they'll be able to cover that with certainty for the future. i don't know how the markets will react and there's an issue if greece goes the euro will need to come under pressure and there needs to be a reon how the euro zone is run in the future.

>> lots of problems. thank you for joining us vicky pryce in london. top diplomats from iran and united states are meeting in vienna. u.s. secretary of state arrived on saturday morning, and is still on crutches following a bike accident. and he was followed by the motorcade of iran's foreign minister. iran wants economic sanctions lived in exchange for access to the nuclear site. james, all the important players look to be there. take us through what will happen today. >> well, they are now meeting. the meeting started 30 minutes ago. the u.s. on one side the iranians on the other, in the palatial surroundings of the building behind me. it was an austrian palace, it's a luxury hotel. trying to thrash out the

details. we understand that other international players will make their way to vienna. the international community negotiates with what is called the p5+1. the five permanent members of the u.n. security council and germany, the e.u. involved as well the e.u. high representatives for foreign policies is likely to get here sunday, and the french prime minister may be on his way, and the russian prime minister on monday. others may well come here. it depends what progress is made. certainly the comments from the foreign minister seemed to suggest the iranians are taking a hard line in this what is supposed to be the final round of notions. he said we'll get a deal if the other side don't stop making difficult demands. >> okay. lots of ifs there. if the deadline slips. what happens then? >> i think if the deadline slips for a bit, we'll be fine. and they'll continue the talks

for a bit. and i think that's almost accepted. and, in fact i know some of the reporters travelling with the secretary of state john kerry got together and had a guess about when it would end, and they put the date as being 5 july. merely a guess people are factoring in a delay. if there's a bigger delay, we are in dangerous territory. this has been extended and extended and no one wants another extension. there are a lot of people opposed to this deal. the gulf countries, israel those on capitol hill fears that this could unravel if they don't get something this time and this is supposed to be the final hurdle. some are telling me that yes, it's too big a deal to fail and if it goes beyond the deadline maybe they'll have to set a new deadline. >> thank you, james bays in vienna there throughout the course of the programme we have been looking

at two attacks claimed by i.s.i.l. one in tunisia, and an attack on tourists at a beach resort and one in kuwait on a shia mosque in kuwait city. let's speak to the head of contemporary middle east studies at the london school of economic and politics. >> let's start with tunisia, they reacted by closing 80 mosques. should we be worried that they think radical messages are preached on a wide scale in tunisia. >> i'm afraid closing 80 mosques will not resolve or put an end to the insurgency in tunisia. in fact i fear it could give inspiration, motivation to

radical young tunisians. what tunisia needs to do is radicalize society, the civil society across age lines, ideology, in terms of class. this is the only way you can deal with this particular complex, and social phenomenon. it's not just by shutting down mosques. if there is a particular group that is calling on young tunisians to carry out terrorist attacks, i can understand that. the reality is it's a complex situation, and for your own viewers, in the last four years, tunisia faces a major islamist insurgency, inside the country, on the border with al jazeera, and on the border with libya. so it's a very serious

situation. and the fact is - yes, please. >> do you think the government is right to say this is nothing to do with i.s.i.l.? >> well i mean regardless of whether the young man or men who carried out the attacks received the direct orders from the so-called islamic state they were motivated and inspired by its ideology. it's a spreading ideology a travelling ideology a mutating ideology. so you don't really have to give direct orders to militants in kuwait or in leon, or in tunisia. the only difference and your question is important, about tunisia, i think the attacks in tunisia are strategic, they are not tactical. a strategic pattern emerged in the last 3-4 months remember the attacks against a museum and now against a critical expect of the tunisian economy.

the strategic message, they want to basically paralyze the country, they want to break down the political system and that is why you don't give them ammunition, you don't close down mosques. you try to mobilize the society. >> if we look at kuwait then that was an attack on a shia mosque. what is the strategy there, increasing sectarian divides? well in kuwait there's no surprise it's footprints and vintage i.s.i.l. the islamic state carried out multiple attacks in saudi arabia or kuwait. the message is to polarize the country along sectarian lines poor gasoline on the raging fire to trigger a civil war. i think it will fail. this is the message in cue wit and those in kuwait and saudi arabia, there's a constituency

of young men who subscribe to this ideology. >> thank you very much for your analysis. speaking to us from london. >> a massive manhunt is continuing in the u.s. for a prisoner on the run after his accomplice was shot dead. armed police spotted richard hiding in woods. he broke out of a high security prison in new york state, along with david sweat, who is still at large. both were serving long sentences for murder. >> president obama has sung the hymn "amazing grace", and paid tribute to the nine that died in the charleston shootings, urging americans to eliminate racism and the confederate flag dating back to the civil war. patty culhane reports. ♪ amazing grace [ cheering and applause ]

>> reporter: he's renowned for his speeches. on this occasion u.s. president obama used his

voice this woman watched the speech and came away believing. it can change. >> educate people more. i work with a lot of people that - they might have certain attitudes towards other races, and i think that education is the key to actually making people more tolerant of other races. >> the president called for action to end income and equality and poverty. augustus brown believes there will be change. >> i believe we have to have faith in changing. what are we hear for. i don't believe in giving up on anything. >> with a victim of gun violence before him. the president called for bun control, but the crowd was doubtful about that. >> not as long as you have the lobbyists with the money, and the opposing party, it's not going to happen. once all nine victims are

buried. the consider, especially about race, has to sustain. >> it could be a betrayal of everything the reverend food for, i believe. if we allow ourselves to clip into a comfortable silence again. >> as the president left there was not silence outside of the church. >> there was a harmony that for now too many here seems like a change. >> in indonesia some farmers are refusing to abandon their crops despite the threat of a volcanic erums. some are ignoring police warns and returning to the danger sewn. mt sinabung has been active afterer upting five years ago. before that it was dormant for

400 years. chinese riot police detained dozens of demonstrators, they have been protesting plans to build a chemical plant and are worried about the impact on the environment and their health. >> the philippines government is campaigning to stop china constructing artificial islands in in the sea. diplomats insist that beijing is doing nothing wrong. diplomats want to see more friendly relations. we have the story. >> broadcasting from beijing in filipino. this service from china radio international is 50 years old, but is facing challenging times. >> the filipino service aims to bridge cultural divide among chinese and the filipino people.

and to enhance their friendship and mutual understanding. it might be the mission at cris editorial meetings, but the divide between china and the philippines has never seen wider. china is shaking up the region by contraversially building islands in in disputed waters in the south china sea. along vital trade passages, claimed, among others by the philippines. >> it's been over a year since the philippine government brought the maritime dispute for arbitration before an international tribunal. china refused to participate, in the process, insisting that it has indisputable rights over the waters. so far as china is concerned, the only way to work through the matter is to speak country to country without outside interference. filipino classes have been added to the curriculum at the beijing foreign studies university. a school known for creating diplomats, and it aims to development a course in philippine studies. >> reporter: to master the language of another country, you can understand the culture and communicate with locals.

if there's a dispute, it will be easier to stop the problem if you speak the local language. when he's not at work, at china radio, this man teaches his native marshall arts to students in beijing. doing his bit, he says, for bilateral relations. >> politics is not so pleasant, yes. so focussing on the more cultural aspect is focussing on beautiful things of human life. if we only focus on the things we enjoy more, the things that we could agree more, then we can resolve the political differences. it's an optimistic perspective not shared by many. beyond the walls political relations fray. attempts at diplomatic communication flounder as

mistrust continues to grow, and out in the ocean china is still building islands in, unconcerned about what its neighbours have to say. all sport in a moment - including team u.s.a. struggle to breach the great wall of chinese defense. we'll tell you if they are able to do it - after the break.

>> i've been asked to keep my voice down cause we are so close to the isil position >> who is in charge, and are they going to be held to accout? >> but know we're following the research team into the fire >> they're learning how to practice democracy... >> ...just seen tear gas being thrown... >> ...glad sombody care about us man... >> several human workers were kidnapped... >> this is what's left of the hospital >> is a crime that's under reported... >> what do you think... >> we're making history right now... >> al jazeera america welcome back all the sport. here is sanaa. starting with football. argentina are through to the last four of the copa america, and they needed penalties to get

past colombia in the quarterfinals. as richard reports. >> reporter: argentina and colombia are both renowned for their style and stars, such as lionel messi, and hamad rodriguez. it was colombia's dole keep esh, ospina, who was the star in the quarter time. he stopped vergia aguero and lionel messi making a double save. in the second half argentina midfielder skipped the crossbar. ospina was called on sending mena's effort on to the post. arsenal may question why they are trying to sign a new keeper. carlos teves had the chance to put argentina ahead, but was denied by jason moreyo and would be goalless after extra

time in the penalty shoot-out the colombian midfielder had a spot kick saved. manchester united defender was unable to send argentina through as he hit the bar. they were given another chance when the ball was blasted sky high. having confirmed his move from joost to bokka juniors earlier in the day, carlos teves sent argentina through for a 5-4 penalties victory. >> translation: to play in the deciding games, and when you dominate it and don't close it don't finish it or have the chance to score. knowing that in the end you may have to go home. it's hard to play in this game. and the players d it well -- did it well. >> translation: i always liked the attitude of our players to show what they can do and they had great solidarity and spirit.

today they defended with their all, until reaching the penalty shoot-out. >> reporter: argentina faces paraguay or rivals brazil in the semis. the women's world cup - the united states booked their place in the semifinals by beating chinament the u.s. had chances to take the lead in the first half. but were wasteful. they had 17 shots during the match. and eventually scored after half-time. getting the goal which turned out to be a winner. 1-0 the final score. >> the players stepped out today magnificent. overall, a fantastic team. clean sheet. it was great. putting china on the heels, they went after it and got the job done. they look to be heading home

against barca. the french ahead after an hour. a late handled decision giving them a penalty which was converted. they would eventually be needed. the keeper proving to be the hero. the save winning it 5-4 for the 2-time champion. >> translation: i think that our team proved their character, because we had to flick a switch in the second half. they did that well and to stay strong in the penalty shoot-out, and then we had the goalkeeper who could save a penalty. >> golf - bubba watson hold on to a 2-shot lead. the two of this time masters winner was not faced by the winds, carding a 3-under 67. three players are tied for second. four behind watson. >> the n.h.l. held a raft in

florida. the edmonton oilers had the number one pick. >> from the erie otters connor mcdavid. >> the 6 foot 1 center had been compared to cigarettes and sidney crosby. the oilers about hope that owen mcdade can help them break the drought. >> unbelievable. it was a surreal feeling. cricket and pakistan are fighting back in a second inages against sri lanka, in a second test, after being bowled out in the first innings. pakistan are 155/2 trailing the hosts thank you very much indeed. more news after the break. i'll be back, stay with us.

the u.s. and iran launch a new round of talks over a nuclear deal with a deadline for agreement three days away. i'm shiulie ghosh in doha with all the news. also coming up let the people decide. greece's parliament debates the call for a referendum on the bailout. fearing for their lives - foreign tourists flying out of tunisia after 38 are killed in a beach resort.